Department of Biological Sciences

A major revolution is occurring in the field of biological sciences. Biology is undergoing unprecedented technological advances in biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, developmental biology, neuroscience and computational biology. Carnegie Mellon's Department of Biological Sciences is nationally recognized as one of the outstanding departments in these areas. Advances in basic research are already being used to solve problems, not only in medicine and public health, but also in areas such as agriculture, forestry, mining, energy, and in industrial and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. The department provides its students with an education that has both intellectual breadth and depth of exposure to modern research biology. This education can be used to gain employment immediately after graduation in government, industry or academic research laboratories, or to pursue graduate studies in a variety of areas such as science, medicine, public health, law, or business. A degree in biological sciences provides excellent preparation for medical school or other graduate programs in the health professions. These students are aided by the Carnegie Mellon Health Professions Program (HPP), an advisory and resource service for all Carnegie Mellon students who are considering careers in the health care field. (See the HPP section in this catalog or www.cmu.edu/hpp for more information.)

The department offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biological Sciences. This program has a distinctive core curriculum that provides a foundation in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. In addition to the core courses, the program includes six biology electives, five free electives as well as eight humanities, social science and fine arts electives. With these electives, students can shape a degree program according to their own interests and career goals. For students who have an interest in a particular field of biology and wish to have a specialized focus, the department offers options in biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, computational biology, developmental biology, genetics, molecular biology and neuroscience that provide the relevant training in each area. The options are especially recommended for students who are considering graduate school in one of these areas. The B.S. in Biological Sciences/Neuroscience Track is available to those students who wish to pursue an in-depth study of neuroscience.

In this exciting era that includes the influence of biology and the life sciences on many fields from medicine to law, the in-depth exposure to multiple disciplines provides opportunities for students to prepare for involvement at the forefront of emerging new fields, markets, and policy changes. The Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon is working at these new interfaces through interdisciplinary research and educational programs. Innovative interdisciplinary degrees which are offered by the department include the inter-college B.S. degrees in Computational Biology and Neuroscience as well as an unified B.S. degree in Biological Sciences and Psychology. Students also explore interdisciplinary studies through the Science and Humanities Scholars program, or pursue interests at the interface between the arts and sciences through the Bachelor of Science and Arts (B.S.A.) degree program combining biological sciences with a discipline in the College of Fine Arts. A stand-alone Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is available for students who wish to expand their educational training into other fields. Many students choose to broaden their education by pursuing minors and additional majors in disciplines throughout the university, not just within the Mellon College of Science.

One of the most important features of the Department of Biological Sciences is the opportunity for undergraduate students to interact with faculty. Providing a solid foundation to scientific practice is critical; therefore, the department offers first-year students a variety of inquiry-based, hands-on courses that incorporate a wide range of topics and interests within Biological Sciences. These courses kick-start the transformation of science students to scientists. We encourage our students to get to know their faculty through one of these courses, or through mentored, independent research projects in the faculty laboratories. Our faculty members are prominent research scientists who also teach beginning and advanced courses. The upper level teaching laboratories are located in the same building as the faculty research laboratories and share scientific equipment. We encourage students to make themselves aware of the research areas of the faculty and to develop research projects with faculty. While such research is usually most important in the senior year, it may begin earlier in a student's undergraduate training. The department has an Honors Program in Research Biology to facilitate a more intensive involvement in research for eligible students. During the past four years, more than 80 percent of the undergraduate biology majors have worked with faculty on their research and, in some cases, have been co-authors of research papers and have given presentations at national meetings.

As of the fall of 2011, the Department of Biological Sciences offers B.S. degrees in Biological Sciences as well as Computational Biology at Carnegie Mellon University in Doha, Qatar. Students enrolled in either of these degree programs will also complete the requirements outlined below. However, a limited number of required courses for the CMU-Qatar program are offered through a collaboration with the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.For a listing of how the degree requirements are fulfilled for students enrolled in Doha, please consult the CMU-Qatar website (https://www.qatar.cmu.edu/curriculum-bs).

B.S. Biological Sciences

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biological Sciences is built around a core program and elective units as detailed in the following section.

Biological Sciences Electives

At least 18 units must be at the 03-3xx level or above, exclusive of 03-445 Undergraduate Research and 03-370 Principles of Biotechnology.

Up to three interdisciplinary electives may count as biology electives.

Up to 18 units of 03-445 Undergraduate Research may count as general biology electives; a maximum of 36 units can count for the minimum units required for graduation.

Courses in biology taken through cross-registration or study abroad at another university may count as electives if prior permission is obtained from the Carnegie Mellon Department of Biological Sciences advisor.

Options for the B.S. in Biological Sciences

Students who wish to specialize in a particular area of biology can do so through a set of departmentally defined options. A student who completes the required biology electives for any option can have up to two noted on his or her transcript. Options need not be declared. The elective courses required for each of the options are listed below.

4. One of these courses must be completed at the Graduate Level (Complete either 03-762 or 03-763).

B.S. Biological Sciences/Neuroscience Track

The Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences/Neuroscience Track provides an option for those Biological Sciences majors who are interested in an intensive curricular focus in neuroscience. The requirements of the Track are the same as those listed for the B.S. in Biological Sciences with the following changes to the biological sciences elective requirements:

B.S. Computational Biology

The Bachelor of Science in Computational Biology is listed in the Intercollege section of this catalog. It is a joint degree program offered between the Mellon College of Science and the School of Computer Science. Current MCS students interested in pursuing this degree should contact Dr. Maggie Braun (DH 1320). More information can also be found on the CMU Computational Biology website.

B.S. Neuroscience

The Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience is listed in the Intercollege section of this catalog. It is a joint degree program offered between the Mellon College of Science and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Current MCS students interested in pursuing this degree should contact Dr. Maggie Braun (DH 1320). More information can also be found on the CMU Neuroscience website.

B.S. Biological Sciences and Psychology

This major is intended to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of current research in the fields of biology and psychology, as well as the national trend in some professions to seek individuals broadly trained in both the social and natural sciences.

Note: Students entering from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences will earn a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biological Sciences. Students in the Mellon College of Science will earn a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Psychology. Students in the joint Science and Humanities Scholars (SHS) program can complete the SHS educational core and choose either departmental order for their diploma.

Depending on a student's home college (H&SS or MCS), General Education (GenEd) requirements will be different. GenEd requirements for H&SS and MCS are found on their respective Catalog pages.

B.A. Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree that is intended for students who wish to combine their interest in science with their interest(s) in other discipline(s) across campus. The requirements for the B.A. degree are distributed as follows:

7 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science can substitute for 15-110 towards completion of the Programming course requirement.

Elective courses

Units

Dietrich College/CFA Electives

72

Free Electives

99-102

Total Elective units

171-174

360Minimum number of units required for degree:

Masters Degree in Computational Biology

Students who are interested in more advanced training in this emerging field may want to consider the Master of Science Program in Computational Biology. For more information about this program, contact the Biological Sciences Graduate Programs Office (bio-gradoffice@andrew.cmu.edu).

Honors Program in Research Biology

The departmental Honors Program offers an opportunity to become extensively involved in research. The program requires students to conduct an independent project and to prepare a formal thesis that is written and defended in the senior year. This program does not preclude a student from completing any of the options within the department nor is it the only way in which students can participate in undergraduate research, although it is excellent preparation for graduate studies.

Minor in Biological Sciences

All university students are eligible to pursue a minor in biological sciences in conjunction with a major in any other department in the university. A minimum of six biological sciences courses (and two chemistry prerequisites) must be completed to fulfill the minor in biological sciences. The curriculum includes four required courses and two elective courses as specified below. Units awarded for undergraduate research are not applicable to elective courses. Courses taken in other departments or colleges will be considered on an individual basis.

73Minimum number of units required for the Minor in Biological Sciences:

Minor in Neuroscience

The curriculum within the Neuroscience minor will allow students from various disciplines to gain fundamental knowledge of neuroscience concepts. The interdisciplinary nature of the coursework echoes the nature of the field itself; students will select courses from the natural, social, and computer sciences. Neuroscientists not only require foundational knowledge of molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience, but they should also understand the behavioral significance and appreciate how computational work and imaging techniques can aid in clarifying normal and abnormal functioning of these fundamental processes.

Students pursuing the minor in Neuroscience will:

• Acquire foundational knowledge of the basic biological foundations of the nervous system, from the cellular through systems levels.

• Understand the effects of basic neurological function on behavior, including cognition.

• Gain an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of the field of neuroscience.

NOTE: Because the curriculum within this minor may overlap with some degree requirements, no more than 2 courses fulfilling Neuroscience Minor requirements may count towards the requirements of a student’s major or other minor.

This information is sometimes available in the course description, but more detail is often found in a course syllabus.

The textbook used in the transfer course should be at a comparable level to S. Freeman (2010) "Biological Science, Vol. 1 (The Cell, Genetics, and Development)," Fourth Edition, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, ISBN 0-321-61347-3.

Introductory level courses that focus on other biology areas (i.e. anatomy, physiology, ecology, evolution, and/or development) will not be accepted for 03-121 credit. These courses may receive credit for a general biology elective.

Students should contact their departmental academic advisor for the transfer credit approval process in their college.

Adjunct Faculty

JON W. JOHNSON, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., Stanford University; Carnegie Mellon, 2006.KARL KANDLER, Professor of Otolaryngology and Neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., University of Tubingen, Germany; Carnegie Mellon, 2006.CYNTHIA LANCE-JONES, Associate Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., University of Massachusetts; Carnegie Mellon, 2006.CYNTHIA M. MORTON, Associate Curator and Head of Botany at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History  Ph.D., New York Botanical Garden/CUNY; Carnegie Mellon, 2002.PETER L. STRICK, Co-Director of CNBC and Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; Carnegie Mellon, 2000.D. LANSING TAYLOR, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cellumen, Inc.  Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany; Carnegie Mellon, 1982.EDDA THIELS, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., Indiana University; Carnegie Mellon, 2006.GEORGE S. ZUBENKO, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 1984.

Adjunct Faculty

JON W. JOHNSON, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., Stanford University; Carnegie Mellon, 2006.KARL KANDLER, Professor of Otolaryngology and Neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., University of Tubingen, Germany; Carnegie Mellon, 2006.CYNTHIA LANCE-JONES, Associate Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., University of Massachusetts; Carnegie Mellon, 2006.CYNTHIA M. MORTON, Associate Curator and Head of Botany at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History  Ph.D., New York Botanical Garden/CUNY; Carnegie Mellon, 2002.PETER L. STRICK, Co-Director of CNBC and Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; Carnegie Mellon, 2000.D. LANSING TAYLOR, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cellumen, Inc.  Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany; Carnegie Mellon, 1982.EDDA THIELS, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., Indiana University; Carnegie Mellon, 2006.GEORGE S. ZUBENKO, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh  Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 1984.